Y-League Preview: City v Adelaide United

It’s crunch time for Melbourne City’s Y-League side this Sunday, with the youth of Adelaide United coming to town for a massive Conference A clash.

City lies in fourth place on the five-team Conference A heading into the seventh of the Y-League's ten rounds, four points adrift of conference leaders Brisbane Roar.

Opponents Adelaide, meanwhile, sit in the second place on the table a point clear of City and three back of the Roar, buoyed over third-placed Perth Glory by a superior goal difference.

Crucially for both City and the Reds, they both retain a game in hand over conference-topping Roar (and two over Glory) - making this weekend’s contest a virtual six-pointer in the race for a place in the Y-League Grand Final.

City last were unable to make it three wins on the bounce, suffering a 3-1 defeat at the hands of a visiting Roar.

Though striker Moudi Najjar – who has been in red hot form throughout the Y-League campaign – was able to drag City back into the contest with his fourth goal of the season after midfielder Josh Cavallo inadvertently prodded the ball into the back of his own net, City were unable to continue their momentum.

Roar’s Daniel Leck put the side in orange back in front just before the half after snaking in behind City’s back four and beating James Delianov before Mirza Muratovic sealed the result when he took advantage of an error from newly introduced substitute goalkeeper Majak Mawith to make it 3-1.

Adelaide, conversely, head into this weekend coming off a bye; their last hit out a 2-1 defeat against Melbourne Victory in round 5.

City and Adelaide are yet to meet this Y-League season, their last battle taking place in round seven of the 2017/18 Y-League season at the City Football Academy.

In a furious battle on a glorious January day, Braedyn Crowley had City ahead after only six minutes in that contest, before Carlo Armiento fired the Reds level in the 25th minute.

Ramy Najjarine had City ahead again only five minutes after Armiento struck but City soon found themselves behind thanks to a brace from Adelaide captain Charlie Devereux.

Nevertheless, Head Coach Joe Palatsides’ side fought back, forcing the Reds Cameron Cook to turn the ball into his own net in the 76th minute to bring scores back level and stealing a winner in the 81st minute when Dylan Pierias produced a piece of magic to find the back of the net.